Thursday, March 29, 2012

Churro Cupcakes with Cinnamon Mascarpone Frosting

I ran across a recipe for churro cupcakes online and immediately thought of the yummy fried pastry, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and filled with warm gooey dulce de leche that one of our Argentinian friends made for us. For Argentinians, they just aren't churros unless they are filled with dulce de leche. I can agree to that one. I had my fair share of dulce de leche when I visited Buenos Aires two years ago with my husband to visit his family. I think they put it in or on just about anything. It's good stuff. One day I will try to make some myself, but for now I will continue to buy it at the store. As a busy mom, recipes need to be kept easy.

In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, until just combined then stir in the vanilla. Sprinkle 1/3 of the flour mixture over the butter mixture and gently stir in until barely combined. Add half of the milk, mixing until just combined. Repeat these steps with the remaining flour mixture and milk, ending with the flour. Do not over mix.

Fill each muffin cup with 2 tablespoons of batter. I used a measuring spoon. Bake the cupcakes for 14 to 16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool for 2 to 3 minutes, then dip the top of each cupcake into the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat it. You really have to smush them in there to get it to stick. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before filling.

To fill the cupcakes

Combine the dulce de leche with the sour cream and mix well. The sour cream makes the dulce de leche less sticky and easier to pipe. Put the mixture into a piping bag or a thick plastic bag with the edge snipped off. Make a hole in each of the cupcakes, making sure you do not go all the way to the bottom. I used an apple corer. It worked quite well. Then pipe the mixture into each cupcake and fill to the top.

To make the frosting

With an electric mixer on medium speed, whisk heavy cream until stiff peaks form (be careful not to overbeat, or cream will be grainy). In another bowl, whisk together mascarpone, cinnamon and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture until completely incorporated. Use immediately. After frosting the cupcakes, sprinkle a little bit of the left over cinnamon-sugar onto the frosting.

I made a good match with these recipes. The cupcakes were a perfect blend of cinnamon and dulce de leche. And the frosting was like eating a cloud from heaven. It was well worth the extra money for the mascarpone cheese. Just looking at this picture makes me want to lick the screen. I will go compose myself now.